That blown lead — not missed tripping call — has Sharks shaking their head after 4-3 shootout loss

SOMEWHERE HIGH ABOVE NEW MEXICO — That’s strictly an altitude reference, by the way.

For what it’s worth, nobody in the Sharks locker room seemed remotely satisfied with a well-played game that didn’t result in two points. No, it was a glum place after that 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. And, as the print edition story linked in the right-hand column, emphasized the Sharks were beating themselves up for failing to hold onto a lead in the game’s final minutes.

None of the players brought up that missed tripping call that handed Dallas its second goal when Dan Boyle crumpled to the ice with Ryan Garbutt’s stick in the defenseman skate. And when I ran that past Todd McLellan, he shrugged it off as the kind of misfortune that evens out over a season.

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Joe Pavelski may have scored San Jose’s third goal, but he wasn’t focused on that. No, he was more troubled by the fact he was on the ice for both of Dallas’s goals in the third period — and a missed opportunity to end the game in overtime.

“I had a great chance there and shoot it in his shoulder,” Pavelski said. “Make that play, make that shot and game’s over.”

Still, the Sharks did take a little encouragement from their play.

“There was some good out there, there definitely was,” Pavelski said. “It’s tough to accept that when you don’t get the two points and you lose in the shootout both times when you don’t score any goals. It’s frustrating.”

McLellan was less rough on his players after this one than he was after the shootout loss to Edmonton two nights earlier.

“For a team that’s struggled to score lately, struggled to put up any offensive plays, we had a number of really good looks at the net,” he said. “We had at times really good traffic, scrambling around, hitting skates and sticks net front. There’ll be some nights coming up where those will go in and we’’ll have plenty to win.”

Just not this night.

*****Some reasonable questions out there about the shootout choices as of late. Will try to get some answers when I catch up with the team at today’s 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time practice.

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*****In case you missed it in the print edition notes, Patrick Marleau said he wasn’t aware until someone brought it up after the game (OK, it was me) that former teammate Jeremy Roenick had taken another shot at him earlier in the day. So that heavy hit on Vernon Fiddler, that goal early in the third period and that defensive gem of a play later was nothing more than a well-timed coincidence? Yep, said Marleau.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

3 constants on this team…D Wilson, Joe T and Marleau…draw your own conclusions!

kingfish100

Just looked at some first season Sharks tickets I saved which brought back fond memories. Hard to believe driving from our home near the tank in SJ to the Cow Palace for two years, what dedication! Sharks weren’t very good in 91-92 but it was an exciting time, every bit as exciting as today with our logical expectations. Big difference is those first two years the tickets cost $27 and without upgrading my tickets this season are $90 and should the Sharks get to the Stanley Cup finals (I stopped holding my breath about 10 years ago) the price goes up to $234!! There’s a real disconnect here, hockey’s expensive entertainment and that’s why I sell more regular season games each year and now it’s about half. I feel the major problem with hockey is it’s ridiculous 82 game regular schedule which leaves the playoffs (all that really matters to any true hockey fan) nearly as much of a test of health as it is of talent. I’ll never forget the reply from Dan Boyle after he revealed he’d been playing for two months with a broken foot and a reporter then said well now you’re at 100% and Dan said “well that will never be the case” The poor results of NHL marketing leaves a financial burden on season ticket holders I bet higher in % than every other major pro sport and our players limping into the most exciting playoffs in sport. Thus I left my heart at the door many years ago, root like hell for the Sharks yet can have some peace in knowing how many thousands of $ I’ll probably save again this year as the Sharks look like at best, a second round exit. The only guarantee in hockey is that the price will keep going up. Randy, you do a wonderful job and have all these years but we can’t even count on Drew showing up. And what ever happened to McSorely??!

puckace

MLBSF previous post: The only thing JR is an expert on is himself. As for denial, you excel in that department. You are like talking to a backboard.

Tough game last night, but I saw a team playing together. In the end there can be only one, and I like the Sharks. Just takes a few breaks. A General Manager can only do so much and I think most of Doug Wilson’s choices have been based on putting a better playoff team on the ice. I definiitely would rather have McClellan behind our bench than Eddie Haskell or whoever his name is at Dallas. I think Doug Wilson’s worst call was in signing JR instead of Owen Nolan. Nolan still had enough game left to almost knock us out of the playoffs later that year, and the emotional lift he would have given us fans as well as the team would have been special.
Anyway the season isn’t over. Go Sharks.

cap-o-113

Marleau is quietly brilliant with his keen sense of low key sarcasm, sure he heard some vague notions of what ‘He who shall not be named’ said. Like the disciplined pro that Patty is, he wouldn’t give the clown the acknowledgement, nor should he. Marleau will continue to be one of the best if not the best performer night in and night out and still get bashed. Patty actually had a terrific 3 zone game in Dallas. He was on the puck making several good clears during a couple of key pk shifts. Brilliant goal to start the 3rd. When together Pavs/Jumbo/Patty are clearly the top productive line.

Well played Mr. Marleau. Well played. This team is very close to turning it around, very close. A win in the desert is a nice start, fittingly against old ‘Voldermort’s’ ex-team too! Go Sharks

Bill

Stevo #17 I stand by my contention that it was the ill advised trades and changes in personnel by DW that have lead to the decline in the Sharks fortunes. Coaching is always part of the equation but when the team removes top scorers and dismantles the locker room chemistry, then the coach has less options and should not bear the brunt of the teams misfortunes.